Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-01-28
The McCook Raid.

The McCook raid was the most disas-
trous in its consequences to us Us regi-
ment, and to me Individually, of any OF the
numerous raids we participated in. Our
brigade consisted of the Fifth and Eighth
Iowa, the Fourth and First Tennessee, and
the Eighth Indiana Cavalry. Major Beard
commanded the Fifth, and Colonel Dorr
the Eighth Iowa; Colonel Brownlow, the
First, and Major Stevens the Fourth Ten
nessee; and Colonel Morrison the Eighth
Indiana, the whole under command of Cen
eral Edward McCook.
We left Marietta, Georgia, in the after
noon, and travelled all night toward Macon,
Georgia, and in the morning we struck the
Macon and Atlanta Railroad, and destroyed
three or four miles of track and captured
two trains with supplies for the Confederate
army, which We burned. We then left in
hurry, as we were in danger of being sur
rounded by infantry sent from Atlanta to
intercept us. We struck toward the Atlanta
and Montgomery Railroad, which we struck
at Noonan-that is, We could not tell
whether We struck it, or it struck US. The
Eighth Iowa charged into the town, and
was nearly all captured. Eight or ten of
them got back to our regiment, and reported
solid line of infantry as far as they could
see either way. We still advanced on them,
and Major Beard sent forward heavy line
of skirmishers.
When they were driven back We halted
and waited until Major Stevens came up
with the Fourth Tennessee and formed on
our left. Right here want to say that
better or drawer men never lived than the
Fourth Tennessee Cavalry. We dismounted
and advanced on foot until We came in
sight of the enemy, waiting for us to come
to them, but we concluded not to go. It
would have been fun for that infantry to
pick us up on their bayonets, but We did
not go. We just got back to our horses
and turned back and met General N1cCook
and the rest of the brigade. McCook
laughed at oua Major for backing out, and
said he did net believe Colonel Dorr was
captured. He got Major Beard on his
mettle, aud he challenged the General to
advance at the head Of the Eighth Tennes-
see on the town, and he would keep him
company with us and the Fourth Tennes-
see. McCook thought he had better send
Brownlow forward with the First Tennes-
see to open the way. Our MAJOR was out
of humor, and asked the General why
he wanted TO send Brownlow if he
thought Colonel Dorr had got through all
right; why not strike out himself? But the
General thought he would send Colonel
oAOW0AOWs AANJOl DcdIO dSAcu ulm IL uS
would permit us to go with Colonel Brown
low, but he said he wanted us to guard the
rear. So We fell back and let the Indiana
boys pass to the front. Colonel Brownlow
now took the advance, and soon struck the
Johnnies ready for him, but lie suddenly
turned to the right. where he had discov-
cred weak spot in the line, and before
they could remedy the defect the Tennes-
seeans were rushing through them with
such vim there was no stopping them.
When General McCook with the Indiana
boys tried to follow, they found solid wall
of bayonets presented at them, SO they
stopped. But now General McCoo]l was
getting excited. He ordered Colonel Nor
rison to charge on the left. where they
found an opening and went through. We
halted, and formed limo of bat
tie to check the pursuit. We We're
soon engaged, and Major Stevens,
with the Fourth Tennessee, was with us.
Major Beard was out of humor at our com
mander, as he insisted that we could have
Indiana boys to help us at the right time.
Beard was high strung, and rather inclined
to be abusive sometimes, but there was no
time now to pick a quarrel with the Gen
eral. Major Stevens moved on. and we
formed to stop the Johnnics from crowdine
us too fast. We had the Chattahooche
River 10 cross, and Major Beard knew that
we must hold them in check until the In
diana boys got across, when they could
cover our crossing from the opposite side.
We would obstruct the road in every con-
ceiyable shape, build rail barbados, and
shen it was possible fell trees in the road ;
then, when they pressed us too hard. we
setreated precipitately by the Fourth Ten
nessee in ambush, and WHEN the enemy
struck them there was Il stampede the other
way. Then the Tennesseeans would 60
by us, and we would receive the Johnnies
In the same affecti0nate manner. We kent
Ahis up until dark. when we selected a
ridge half q mile from the river and forti-
fed it for regular siege. Our horses
we. had nearer the river, where we were
lucky enough to find plenty of food,
but food for ourselves was not to be had.
We had nothing to eat that night except raw
corn, not having time to parch or roast it.
The Fifth Iowa and Fourth Tennessee
Cavalry, with Majors Beard and Stevens,
stood shoulder to shoulder through all of
that terribly long night, and repealed every
attempt Of the foe to drive us, for wo were
there to stay. When morning dawned nine
Tennesseeans and seven Iowans had
answered to the last roll call--aixteen dead